Magnolia blooms in Toronto

Magnolia stellata, M. x soulangeana, M. x loebner "Leonard Messel" blooms

It's safe to say that spring is finally here in Toronto. I'm busy gardening for a living but try to remember to bring my camera along to take pictures when I can.

Magnolias look incredible for about two weeks of the year, if the buds can escape a late freeze and if the trees can withstand magnolia scale, etc. They're shrubs or trees better appreciated in someone else's garden and not mine!

Still, they are pretty things this time of the year.

Leonard Messel magnolia
(Magnolia x loebneri)

Leonard Messel magnolia
(Magnolia x loebneri)

Leonard Messel magnolia(Magnolia x loebneri)

Magnolia x soulangeana
(Saucer magnolia) 

Saucer magnolia
(Magnolia x soulangeana) 

Saucer magnolia
(Magnolia x soulangeana) flower 

Star magnolia
(Magnolia stellata) 

Magnolia stellata
(Star magnolia) bloom 

Magnolia blooms in Toronto: Magnolia stellata, M. x soulangeana, M. x loebneri "Leonard Messel" blooms

Written by Paul Jung on May 13, 2014

It's safe to say that spring is finally here in Toronto. I'm busy gardening for a living but try to remember to bring my camera along to take pictures when I can. Magnolias look incredible for about two weeks of the year, if the buds can escape a late freeze and if the trees can withstand magnolia scale, etc. They're shrubs or trees better appreciated in someone else's garden and not mine! Still, they are pretty things this time of the year.

Toronto blooming cherries, plums, and magnolias

Reasons to visit Mount Pleasant Cemetery in the spring

Prunus "Accolade" in bloom

When you really think about it, a cemetery is a great place to appreciate trees any time of the year. I don't find it morbid at all!

Right now, members of the Prunus genus are strutting their stuff, to mix metaphors, and since my last post "Sakura dreams: Cherry blossoms at the University of Toronto" seems popular, why not give the reading public more of what they want? My family and I spent a few hours bike riding (them) and staring at the spring blooms (me) recently on a beautiful afternoon at the cemetery. I think this beats going to the mall any day!

Prunus "Accolade"
 Japanese Flowering Cherry blooms
at Mount Pleasant Cemetery

Japanese Flowering Cherry blooms
Prunus "Accolade"
at Mount Pleasant Cemetery 

Japanese Flowering Cherry
Prunus "Accolade" sakura blooms
at Mount Pleasant Cemetery 

Mount Pleasant Cemetery
Japanese Flowering Cherry
 Prunus "Accolade" sakura blossoms

Prunus "Accolade"
Japanese Flowering Cherry blooms
 at Mount Pleasant Cemetery 

Prunus "Accolade"
Japanese Flowering Cherry
sakura blooms at Mount Pleasant Cemetery 

Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto rivals any local arboretum. Many visitors jog, ride their bikes, pay their respects, and a few, like me, wander around appreciating the foliage and flowers. Spring and fall are special times to visit for the botanically-inclined.

The "Amanogawa" tree above is a memorial for this gentleman who I think, um, was a Who fan. The label is actually incorrect as "Amanogawa" is very columnar. (My best guess is this is Prunus "Accolade".)

Food for thought: if you were to pick a memorial tree for yourself, what would it be and why?

Fleeting beauty, eternal rest

Nearby, a Leonard Messel magnolia (Magnolia x loebneri "Leonard Messel")  was in full bloom.

I didn't crop out the statue and marker since the grave does reinforce the idea that the blooms, like ourselves, are only here for a short time. We might as well enjoy ourselves and others while the opportunity exists!

Smells heavenly! Prunus americana 
(American or wild plum) in full bloom

I don't find the Japanese flowering cherries very fragrant. This can't be said for the several weeping American plums found in the cemetery. Prunus americana  has a sweet odour and the specimens here were covered by pollinators (bees and flies that are, bad pun intended, wanna-bees) hungry for nectar.

Detail of American plum blooms 

American Plum (Prunus americana)
blooms at Mount Pleasant Cemetery

American Plum (Prunus americana)
spring blooms at Mount Pleasant Cemetery 

American Plum (Prunus americana)
spring flowers at Mount Pleasant Cemetery 

Prunus americana (American Plum)
spring blooms at Mount Pleasant Cemetery

Weeping American Plum (Prunus americana)
blooms at Mount Pleasant Cemetery

My two special blossoms tucked in there